COLUMBIA, S.C. — Flu and COVID numbers have seen an increase compared to last year.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in mid December of 2022 hospitalizations were around 150 while this December it's nearly doubles and sits in the 370 range.
This rise, according to Lexington Medical Center Director of Urgent Care, Dr. Donald Moore, does not have to keep growing if the correct precautions are taken.
"If you do have symptoms, and they are not horribly severe, stay home," he said. "Truly stay home and, if you do have systems, don't venture out to stores and malls and things here everyone else can get infected. If all you have is a fever, body aches, some chills and a cough and cold just stay home and do that."
Vaccinations for flu and COVID are also looking different than years prior. Pharmacist Crissy Payette says she's noticed more people are hesitant than years prior to get a vaccine.
"We are definitely seeing a little bit of decline in interest not only in COVID vaccines but flu vaccines," she said.
With prevention being the best way to combat the rise in numbers, how to prevent illness varies among individuals.
For Columbia local Alonzo Avents, he says, "If I feel like I'm getting sick or coming down with something or the kids start sniffing, whatever the case is, we have different things we use. Natural stuff like olive oil or oregano."
While another Columbia local Letrell Hodge says, "I need to get lots of rest, lots of fluids, laying low and quarantining -- and lost of soup."
And although the typical time of year to receive a vaccination is in fall months, Payette says its never too late to get the vaccine.
"It's not too late to get vaccinated. You can still get vaccinated now and have protection for the remainder of the flu season. It is also safe to get the COVID and flu vaccine at the same time," she concluded.